Fish, vegetable farms ruined by abnormal Jessore flood

Dhaka – Around 50 villages were submerged by floodwater washing away some 1,200 large and small fish enclosures in Sharsha upazila of Jessore district in the last couple of days.
According to the district agriculture office, around 50 villages, including Shakharipota, Bahadurpur, Boalia, Mankia, Roghunathpur, Dhankhola, Mandartola, Dubpara and Notadhigha, were inundated due to onrush of water from upstream and incessant rainfall, leaving thousands of residents marooned, UNB news agency reported.Besides, transplanted aman paddy on 1,300 hectares of land vanished in floodwater, said Sharsha upazila agriculture officer Hirak Kumar. The flood also submerged seasonal farms of vegetables including beans and papaya, sources said. Jessore normally does not experience such flood. Last time such flood was recorded in 2004 due to swelling of rivers across the border.
The flooding also prompted closure of 38 educational institutions in the upazila, said sources at the district education office.
The flood-affected people are leaving their houses and taking shelters at safer places.
Besides, electric poles were uprooted by squally showers, snapping power connections in the area.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sharsha Abdus Salam said they have already taken necessary measures to minimise sufferings of the victims.